The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-11-24
SETH pAkrN.s ..FIGGERrN." J"


from his youth up he had been ing
gerin'," as he pronounced it, form
of expression common to most bGsi-
ness-men and women, not Bostonian
i'll elegance. but very popular with
s'the masses.
7 He did some figgerin' when he made
up his mind to marry sweet, pretty
Nellie NARROW, who taught in the pri-
mary department of the public school,
and had known him since she was q
wee toddler and he was a gawky,
freckled-faced schoolboy.
"Pye been ticeerin'," he said to his
landiady, as he sat one night with pen
Gil and paper before him. She had
looked in to collect his board bill,
week before it was due. to protect her
self.
I've figgered it out that it's as cheap
for two to live as one. l mean that
it won't cost me any more to get
married and take care of a wife than
it doessto live single. You see, I've
Eyoered it out The same fire will do
for beth, and 1 won't have to pay out
for mending, and there's a lot of ways
young man spends money with his
friends that he can save if he has
some one to look after him. I've got
it all down here and added up, and
there is balance in favor of my plan
on the credit side.
.-Hes tiggerin' on the rule that what
amt enough for one is plenty and to
spare for two,' thought his landlady;
.''twon't work, but it's none OF my af-
fairs.
Seth Dakin married the little school
mistress, and for a brief year they
boarded with his former landlady in
such a pinched and snbdued style that
they were comfortably wretched most
of the time, and. had it not been
for the genuine love that existed be-
tween them. could never have sur
yived their domestic hardships. At
the end of the year Seth did some more
'siiggerin'."
This time he figured himself into a
house and lot, on some installment
plan, and it looked so feasible that
Nellie clapped her hands with enthusi-
asm-yery thin white hands they were.
'tAre you sure it can be done? she
asked anxiously. as she reckoned up
the long colnmn OF items. Can we
ever pay for thcm?"
Easiest thing in the world, dear"
Seth answered gently. He was very
fond of his Nellie. If she had no cloak
bit TO wear neither did he have any
oyercoat, hlIt went out ON the coldest
day buttoned up and trim.
you've forgotten your oyereoat,
Mr.. Dakin." said polite friend TO him
ona day; '.aren't you cold?'
'N-n-n.eFer w-wear o-O-ne, stam-
mered the poor fellow. shiveriug like
hungry dog over bone Is-a-should
d-despise to r-r-oll up Hike an -o-o-ld
E-woman"
You see he was only clerk on a
beggarly stipend in a time and place
that demanded luxqries, carpets in
stead of bare floors; meat and pie inr
stead of brown loaEes OF cabbage and
beans. He could as well have turned
cannibal as to have tried To do without
the kind of food they had been reared
upon.
.'Figgers don't lie." he said cheer
fully. s.NeIlie wen have home"
The house was built for them and
they moved in. For another year they
pinched and saved. and pared down to
the bone. Then Seth begah to Zig
GER again.
This time it was the baby.
He was as cheerful and light-heart-
ed-not the baby, but Seth-as it the
debt on the house was not staring
them in the face. He whistled and
sang, and one night he sat down by
Nellie and showed her two long col.
umns of credit and debit.
1--WE been figgerin' he said gayly,
and that little shaver over there isn't
going to cost US a cent "l've put
everything down that he can possibly
need for a year, and it only adds up
$50. Why, [ can make that by writ
ing up books in the evenings this win
ter"
Nellie smiled, but it was sad, wan
smile. She began TO see how Setb's
.'iiggsrin' came out-always de-
fcit instead OF balance, but she
hadn't the heart to discourage him.
The baby grew aud thriyed. His
mother was his nurse. She was also
chief cook and seamstress, as well as
mistress and housekeeper.
''1've been figgerin' began Seth one
evening that the baby is the best
economist in the family. He Keeps us
from going anywhere. SO we can't
spend any money for outside pleasure
if We try. And we're ever so much
happier together, ain We, little MAN.
MAJ"
The little woman looked very tired,
but she assented with her whole heart
to what Seth said. Here was her
world. These two were her treasures.
They had barely been able to pay
the interest on their home with all
of Seths ''figgerin'. when the baby
was taken very i'll and doctor was
called in.
Then followed dreadful siege of
sickness. The doctor came three or
four times u day. The father and
mother We're watchers and nurses
themselves. but al last the little fellow
was saved and the long, dreadful anx-
iety was over.
Then Seth brought out that we'll
known pencil and paper.
1--WE been tiggerin'," he said, but
this time more gravely than his wont.
''and it seems TO me Mnw. if muthing
happens, that we'll have the house and
lot paid for inside of five years-that
amt long, Nellie, is it?'
Nellie did not answer She was
looking at the thin hand, o so much
thinner than hers had ever been, that
held the fatal pencil in such iaunty
way. Her eyes We're full of tears.
t'Yon're worn out. he said kindly,
''bnt you needn't worry. dear; the |
baby's all right now, and I've been fig
GERM
I've been figuring, too," said Nell
lie, land after this | am going 10 be
accountant of the firm. You've lost |
your place at the store. but I've taken
it. am glad I learned bookkeeping
and need a change of work. Sister |
Alice is coming to take care of the |
house aud the baby and you are to take
4 vacation.
He gave her one stricken look, then
bow ed his head on his arms, and if he
wept it did honor to bis manhood and
was naught to be ashamed of, since it
was Gods will that be should be laid
aside.
The doctor was at the bottom of il
all. He saw that worry and privation
and hope deferred had sapped the very
depths of Seth Dakin's life, aud that |
now the end was very near.
Brave Nellie! true wife! She went
to the store every morning, swallowing